Page 3 of 3
(continued...) Pro/Collaborate projects can be initiated by maintenance paying users of the full Pro/Desktop in the same way as Pro/E users.
Pro/Desktop Express users can participate in projects to which they are invited.
Once involved in a project, parts, drawings, and assemblies can be published directly from within Desktop with additional supporting files also shared as part of the design package.
Non-engineers, suppliers, and partners can view and mark-up a lightweight version of the Desktop data.
Desktop data format compatibility includes IGES, VDA STEP, DXF, DWG plus the export of Medusa, STL and VRML files.
Versions of Moldflow and Pathtrace have been developed as third party applications based on Granite specifically for Pro/Desktop.
Similarly Pro/E part libraries are now accessible to Desktop and PTC has plans to license the Granite technology widely to more application developers.
Desktop has a thoroughly Windows native interface complete with dockable toolbars, online help, recycle bin for deleted features, drag and drop handles for feature sizing and graphical Ironcad style feature palettes.
This interface is currently substantially different than Pro/E limiting acquired skills to solid modelling principles rather than directly transferable modeller proficiency.
This is set to change however with Wildfire, the next release of Pro/E that is said to be Desktop inspired.
The potential trained user base could become huge with more than 1 million senior school students in the United States and United Kingdom using Pro/Desktop as part of their design and technology curricula.
Clearly Pro/Desktop is no replacement for Pro/Engineer that offers significantly wider modelling, drafting and analysis opportunities.
Desktop does however represent a significant opportunity for additional users to access and interact with Pro/E data.
The low cost is a bold move to lock a significantly expanded supply chain into the PTC data world.
Given the ever shifting market and resultant product repositioning, there is the potential risk that Pro/Desktop becomes a Trojan horse such that once the committed user base is sufficiently large the cost begins to rise again.
PTC are adamant however that there are no plans to even start charging for the Express version.
Whilst there is no doubt that Pro/Desktop represents a capable starter modeller for generally geometric components, the attraction for new adopters must remain the platform, the need for access to Pro/E data rather than low cost alone.
Should requirements increase to more complex forms, sheet metal or the need for more extensive analysis tools, the only upgrade route is the full Pro/E suite of products and unless compatibility is the driving issue, other mid range modellers with extensive third party partner offerings may offer better value.
Given the frequency with which Pro/E data is encountered however Pro/Desktop is an obvious, downloadable addition to the CAD arsenal.